16. What if this step should do no good? Why should others be taken? (See Deut. xix. 15.) 17. What if this did not succeed? What is here meant by the Church, and why should he be brought thus to trial? If all this did not suffice, what then? What is meant by this, and how could the offender be to you as a heathen man and a publican? 18. What is here said about the authority of a Church court? Repeat. To whom are these words addressed? Do all Church members have this authority? Show that it was not given to any one of the apostles as head. What is the proper court in a Church for the trial of offences? What was the plan in the Jewish Synagogue from which the Christian Church was arranged? (See Notes on the Gospels, vs. 17.) What is here meant by binding and loosing, and what is here taught about the authority of the Church court? 19. What is further said in this verse? What is the meaning? Why should Church discipline be entered on with prayer to Christ? (See 1 Cor. v. 3, 4.) 20. What is here said in conclusion? What is the authority and safety of the Church? (See ch. xxviii. 19, 20.) Does this prove Christ to be God? What is God? What do we learn from this lesson about true greatness-about the true dignity and value of man as seen in Christ's redeeming work-about the settlement of personal disputes-about the need of Church discipline, and about Christ's Divinity? 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there was in the midst of them LESSON XXXVII. The Duty of Forgiveness.-Brotherly Love. MATT. XVIII. 21-35. What had our Lord been speaking of, in vss. 15-20 ? 21. Who came to Christ now, and what was his question? How was this connected with the subject before them? What is meant by forgive? Who is here meant by my brother. 22. How many times did Peter speak of, and how did Christ answer him? Why did He say seventy times seven? (See Luke xvii. 3, 4.) What do we pray for in the fifth petition? 23. What does He say the kingdom of heaven 19 like? What series of Parables is here commenced? (See Notes on Matt.) What is here meant by the Kingdom of Heaven? (See Matt. v. 20.) In what character is Christ here set forth? How doth Christ execute the office of a King? What is here meant by His taking account, &c.? (Set Luke xvi.) Who are represented by his servants? Wherein consists Christ's exaltation? 24. How great was the debt of one? How large a sum is this? What does this represent ? 25. Could the servant pay? What was to becom of Him? (See Levit, xxv. 39--46. 2 King iv. 1, &c.) 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 T Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto m which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But rasmuch as he had uot to pay, his lord commanded hit to be sold, an his wife and children, and all that he had, and paymer se be made. 1 Can sinners satisfy God for their debt to Him? 26. What did the servant do and say? Repeat. How do men often think they can pay what they owe to God? 27. How did the lord of this servant feel, and what did he do? What is Justification? 28. What is now said of that servant's conduct afterward? How near is a hundred pence to 10,000 talents? What kind of conduct is described by this man's? 29. What did his fellow-servant do? What is meant by besought? Is this the same petition which the man himself had just made? (Vs. 26.) 30. How did he treat this request? 31. What did his fellow-servants do? ! 32, 33. What did his lord say unto him? What made his conduct so shameful? What makes an unforgiving spirit so inexcusable in a Christian? What do we pray for in the fifth petition? 34. What did his lord do with him? Who were meant here by the tormentors, and what does this represent? What doth every sin deserve? ། 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid bands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, say. ing. Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him. O thov wicked servant. I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shoulde, et thou also have bad compassion on thy feilow-servant even as I bado te ra lægni 35. What does this parable teach? What duty is it meant to set forth? How must we forgive? What do we learn from this, (1) about Christ's free forgiveness, and the object of it? (2) about its fulness (vs. 32), and our inability to pay? (3) about our condemnation as sinners (vs. 25)? (4) about the necessity of a forgiving spirit in order to genuine piety? and (5) about the proper effect of Christ's forgiveness upon our hearts and lives? (See Notes on Matt.) LESSON XXXVIII. Jesus beyond Jordan. Divorce. He blesses little children, &e. MATT. XIX. 1-30. What sections here follow in Matthew's narrative, (§ 94 and § 104.) and where do they belong in the general history? 1. From what country did Jesus now go? To what coasts, or region did He go? What was the country beyond Jordan called? 2. What is here said about His followers and His works? Where have we an account of His teaching and healing these? (See Luke, chs. x. 13-21: and xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. xviii.) What is the next section in Matthew's narrative, (§ 104.) where does it belong in the history, and where else is it recorded? 3. Who came to Him in that country, and for what purpose? What is meant by “tempting Him," and were they fond of doing this? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, tili he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. CHAPTER XIX if ye from 1 AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Joi dan 2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 37 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unt him. Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? How did they expect to puzzle Him on the subject of divorce? (See Notes on vs. 7.) 4. What does He say about the original law of marriage? (vss. 4, 5, 6.) What do these verses mean, as to the sacredness of this relation? 6. How is divorce here spoken of, and what does this teach against it? 7. What did they reply as to the Mosaic law? 8. What did Christ answer to this? What is meant by "from the beginning, &c. ?" 9. What rule does He lay down as the true rule? Which is the Seventh Commandment? What is required and what is forbidden in it? 10. What objection is here started by the disciples? How does Christ answer this? What do we learn from these verses, (1) as to the secredness of the marriage institution from the beginning (2) as to Moses' laws and Christ's? (3) as to the effect of the Gospel upon the marriage relation? What is the next section, (§ 105.) and where else is it recorded? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not real, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together. let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shalt put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away, doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, sare they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mothes a womb and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of me: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for t |